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What is a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)?

As a frontline PCSO you will play a significant role in supporting the police, other agencies and local communities in tackling and discouraging issues such as public nuisance and anti-social behaviour. You will be working closely with partners and communities to problem solve local issues to reduce victimisation and make areas safer for residents and visitors.

The PCSO role is demanding. It calls on you to visible and to be able to effectively communicate with different people from different backgrounds and walks of life. No two days are the same and you will need to be prepared for challenging situations that will require you to draw from your training to resolve.

We are looking for people with the following qualities:

  • Integrity
  • Leadership
  • Honesty
  • Selflessness
  • Professionalism
  • Fairness
  • Inclusivity
  • Accountability
  • Respect
  • Objectivity

As part of a Neighbourhood Team the PCSO role is broken down into four distinct areas:

General – carrying out high visibility patrols, providing public reassurance, assisting at major incidents and local events, giving a professional service

Traffic – targeting vehicle related offences, addressing road safety issues, promoting the safety of all road users, directing traffic at organised events, accidents etc.

Environment – targeting littering/dog fouling offences, reporting environmental issues, such as flytipping to relevant authorities.

Reassurance – working as part of a team to target areas of anti-social behaviour or annoyance, attend local community meetings to address local concerns, gather and submit community intelligence reports.

As a PCSO, you will perform one of the most demanding roles in the modern police force and you will be given the opportunity to inspire confidence within the community. If you think you would like the challenge of making a positive difference to the communities of County Durham and Darlington and you have the right qualities, then the Police Community Support Officer role could be for you.

For further information on the role, the challenges and common questions, click here.